The recent winning streak of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in the courts continued in Joseph Gadifele Modibane v SARS (Case 09/9651). Mr Modibane launched an application in the South Gauteng High Court for the rescission of judgment obtained by SARS on March 5 2009, which was dismissed.
Facts
SARS issued an income tax assessment of R22 million against Modibane on August 13 2007, which was not paid. Modibane proceeded to lodge an objection to the income tax assessment, which SARS dismissedon January 30 2008. An appeal was lodged by Modibane to the tax court on March 7 2008 which, based on the reading of the case, is still pending.
When discussions with Modibane relating to his tax liability proved to be fruitless, SARS obtained judgment of R25 million (including interest) against the taxpayer under Section 91(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act. Modibane's main argument was that it was wrong of SARS to proceed and obtain judgment against him as there was, at all material times, an appeal pending on the assessment. The taxpayer also advanced arguments that the judgment was wrong on procedural grounds and that on the merits of the case, the income tax assessment was incorrect.
Decision
The court first dealt with the issue of whether the certified statement filed by SARS with the registrar could in fact be referred to as a 'judgment'. In summary, the court held that the certified statement filed by SARS under Section 91(1) of the act was not a judgment in the ordinary sense of the word, agreeing with the court in Capstone 556 (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner [2011] ZAWCHC 297. In Capstone 556, the court stated that although a statement filed by SARS under Section 91(1)(b) of the act has all of the effects of a judgment, it is nevertheless not in itself a judgment in the ordinary sense and does not determine any dispute or contest between the taxpayer and SARS. The effect of the aforementioned is that there is technically no 'judgment' to be rescinded, which in the court's view should dispose of the issue. From a taxpayer's perspective, this creates more uncertainty regarding the status of judgments obtained under Section 91(1)(b) of the act, as many taxpayers have in the past successfully argued for judgments of this nature to be rescinded.
Notwithstanding the above, the court proceeded to deal with the Modibane case on the basis that the registrar issued 'judgment', in the ordinary sense of the word as understood by the applicant, which was susceptible to rescission. In order for a judgment to be rescinded, an applicant must show 'sufficient cause'. To establish 'sufficient cause', two elements must be considered:
- The party seeking relief must present a reasonable and acceptable explanation for its default; and
- On the merits, such party must have a bona fide defence, which prima facie carries some prospect of success.
Modibane failed to show sufficient causes on both of the abovementioned elements. First, the court found that there was wilful default on his part of Modibane in that he refused to engage with SARS directly, or through his advisers, to resolve his obligation to pay tax. Second, the court dismissed Modibane's reliance on the earlier judgment of Mokoena v Commissioner SARS 2011 (2) SA 556 (GSJ), also involving Section 91(1)(b) of the act, which held that no judgment can be obtained pending the outcome of an objection or appeal.
In Mokoena, which provided short-lived hope for taxpayers, the court held that it is self-evidently incompetent, having regard to the rights of objection and appeal, to obtain judgment in the interim. The Mokoena court further stated that it is inconsistent with the framework of the Income Tax Act and its provisions - for example, the express right to collect tax despite and objection and appeal would be unnecessary if judgment could be obtained in the interim. The court in Capstone 556 and Modibane disagreed with the decision in Mokoena, holding that it is not supported by a proper construction of the relevant statutes and relevant precedents.
In Modibane the court confirmed that Section 91(1)(b) of the act entitles SARS to exact payment from a taxpayer pending an appeal.
For further information on this topic please contact Ruaan van Eeden at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc by telephone (+27 11 562 1000), fax (+27 11 562 1111) or email ([email protected]).